Driving mechanism for paper-making machines



` D. COPPAGE. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV@ 22, 17916.

Patented July 6, 1920.

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B. D. COPPAGE.

DRIVING MECHANISNI FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES.

l APPLICATION FILEIJ NOV, 22, I9I6` 1,845,479. Patented July 6,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMN VD]'i|1\1"VER GOPPAGE, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

DRIVING MEoHANIsIvL FOR PAPER-MAKING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6,1920'.

Application tiled November 22, 1916. Serial No; 132,848.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'l, BENJAMIN DENvER Correos, a citizen of the United States of America', and a resident of Wilmington,

Delaware, have invented a new and usefulV combination with heavy paper-making machines driven yby belts, ropes'or gears with reduction oi' speed in transmission, means whereby the momentum of moving parts in the power transmission train near the point of application of power to the machines may be used at Startins' to prevent destructive frictional and other injurious effects on the belts or ropes, and to overcome shocks and strains in the power transmission, while the load is varying at starting or while running.

In paper-making machinery, the power is usually derived 'from a single prime mover that drives the various counter-shafts which operate the several sections of the-machine, each section being adapted to be started and stopped independent ot other sections driven from the prime mover.

rlie rotating parts of a paper-making machine are very heavy; for example, 32 drying cylinders GO inches by 202 inches weigh about i285 tons-and an enormous torque is required to start them. T his torque is necessary not "only to overcome the inertia of the parts, but also to overcome the friction oit the bearings and Aother elements, such `friction being` about live times as great at starting when the parts are at normal running speed. l#Vith a modern 2021nch machine, producing 545 ieet ot paper per minute, it requires approximately 69.5V H. P. to drive the couch roll, 41.6 H. P. ior each of the. three presses, 39 H. P. for each oi two sections of 82 (3U-inch driers, 4:2 il. l). for the calender-s, and H. l). -lor the reel and Winder. it will therefore be appreciated that large forces and great masses are being dealt with. v

'in actual practice it is customary to get Vout transmitting power.

this load up to speed in about ten seconds;- and heretofore very serious Vdifficulty has been encountered in providing a drive mechanism sutiiciently'powerful to provide the required starting torque.

The usual standard drive in present use on modern paper-making machines employs ropes 1J,- inches in diameter, of the best Egyptian long-fiber cotton, which ropes transmit the power upon a decreasing speed ratio from the prime mover tothe counterlshafts associated with each section of the machine. This rope drive is connected through friction clutches with countershafts which are usually located in the basement of the installation, and from these counter-shafts belts or other powertransmitting connections extend `to the papermaking machine on the ioor above. As a result of this arrangement, the clutches are in a position in the train of power-transmission where the speed of the driving members of the clutches is much higher than the speed of the last pulley shafts which deliver power to the paper-'making' machine, and consequently are required to pick up, not only the machines which are to be brought up to speed, but are also required to set into operation that part of the power train between the paper-making parts and the clutches. Inasmuch as the belt or rope drive is fric tional, and the rictional value varies with the arc of contact and the train is upon a decreasing ratio with Vdriven pulleys and sheaves larger than the driving pulleys and sheaves, it follows that, when the load eX ceeds power, as is apt to be the case in starting under these conditions, the driving pulleys in the train beyond the clutches begin to spin in a localized portion oie the beltv with- The belt or rope burns at this Vpoint and has to be replaced at large expense. Furthermore, under the conditions noted, the belts, ropes and gears between the prime mover and the several parts 'are subjected to most destructive strains.

Indeed, the starting stresses are so great that they have literally pulled the rope drive apart in two weeks; and, further, on a 202- inch machine, three belts of the best bull hide leather, 21 inches' wide by fl-gths inches thick, were pulled apart in one day, it being finally necessary to secure belts 24 inches wide and inch thick to withstand the enormous starting strain.

My invention overcomes the above objections in large measure, if not wholly, and resides in associating with the power-intake shaft of each section of the paper-making machine to be driven, and at the low speed -end of the power train, a friction or like clutch together with anenergy reservoir, such as an inertia member, cooperating with the driving members of the clutch. The location of the friction clutch at the low .speed end of the'train permits the entire tram from prime mover up to each intake-shaft to be continually run, thereby taking advantage of the kinetic energy of the moving belts and pulleys particularly at the end of the train to continue the synchronous movement of belt and pulley when the clutch is closed, thereby reducing the chances of belt slipping and of spinning the drive pulleys and burning the belts. Further, the drive member of the clutch runs slower' when located at the low speed end of the train, ano enables advantage to be taken of the greater value of the coeliicient of friction between the rubbing surfaces of the clutch, thereby insuring rapid and certain pick-up of the sections to normal speed. While the clutch is picking up the load, an enormous strain developed which would endanger the driving train, but this strain and shock resulting from coupling is relieved by the flywheel next each clutch, whereby stored enf ergy is delivered to the drive member of the clutch during the short space of time needed to bring up the speed of the machines to normal, thus overcoming any injurious strains being transmitted back to the driving train. The fly-wheel is designed to be continuously driven and to overcome shock and strain while the load is varying at starting or while running.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating one expression of the inventive idea, and wherein- Figures 1 and 1L constitute a plan view of a modern paper-making machine equipped with the present invention; and

Figs. 2 and 2 are a side elevation corre- Y spending to Figs. 1 and 1a.

roll 20, and two ropes 21 around sheave 10V associated with the third press roll 22. On the other hand, seven ropes 23 pass around sheave 11 associated with the two sets of drier cylinders 241 and 24k', four ropes 25 around sheave 12 associated with the calender rolls 26, and two ropes 27 around sheaves 13 associated with the winders 28 and 28. The number of ropes may be materially altered in the present invention, and is simply noted here to suggest the relation of work to be performed in connection with driving the several sections of the machine. Indeed, the rope drive might be dispensed with in favor of the old system of shafting and bevel gearing. Y

As is well known, the Fourdrinier part 29 of a paper-making machine (at the left of the couch roller 15) isdriven from said roller which' in turn is driven from countershaft 7. This counter-shaft, as well as the others noted, are preferably mounted in standards on the basement floor 30, while the couch roll 15, the presses, driers and calenders are mounted on the machine lioor 31.

The couch roller 15 is carrie-Cl bythe ma-Y chine frame 32 and 33, and is connected. vto a shaft 15 which is rotated Yfrom coun-- tershaft 7 when friction clutch 34 is closed. rihis clutch may be of any suitable construction, but is preferably that shown 1n U.' S. Patent 1,171,173, dated February 8, 1916, D. Coppage. @ne member of said clutch is associated with an energy reservoir, in the form of a fly-wheel 35, and is preferably fixed thereto; and the other member is splined to the shaft to rotate therewith but slidable therealong. The clutch may Vbe closed in any suitable manner, eitherelectrical or mechanical, said means beingv con-- ventionally indicated, for the sake of clear'- ness, at 36. Y v

Between counter-shaft 7 and the fly-wheel 35, which is loosely mounted on shaft 15, are arranged suitable drivingconnections, preferably including means for varying the speed of rotation of the ffy-wheel. The

capability for such speed-variation or adjustment is necessary in order that the speeds of rotation of the several sections of the paper-making machine may be properly coordinated. As here shown, a cone pulley 37 iscarried byshaft 7. A belt 38 vlos passes around this pulley and around anfopposi-tely coned pulley 39 mounted fon a shaft 40 carried in standards 44 and 42. Mounted on the shaft 40 is la belt pinion 48, `around which passes a belt 44. 'This 1belt passes through an lopening 45 Vin `the floor 31Y and around fly-wheel 35, and there is preferably associated therewith any suitable belt tightening means (not sho-wn). Y

The `first press rollV 18 is driven from counter-shaft 8 through similar connections, fly-wheel 46 being carried by shaft 18 and being rotated by 'belt 47 which also passes around a belt pinion on a shaft 48 corresponding to shaft` 40. This shaft 48 is driven from counter-shaft 8 through belt 49 passing ai'ound oppositely coned pulleys 50 and 51. f

The second press roll 20 is connected to a shaft 20 which carries fly-wheel 52 around which passes belt 53 `which also passes around abelt pinion on shaft 54. The latter is driven from counter-shaft '9 through belt 55 which passes around oppositely coned pulleys 56 and 57.

The third press roll 22 is connected toa shaft 22 on which Ais loosely mounted iiywheel 58 driven by "belt 59. The latter passes around a belt pinion 60 on a shaft 6l which shaft is driven from counter-shaft l() through Ibelt 62 passing around Voppositely coned pulleys 63 and V64.

The drier cylinders are divided into two sections, 24and 24, thevdriers of each section being geared together'. VThe driers of section`524 are driven from counter-shaft 11 through belt 65 which passes around flywheel 66 loose on shaft 67. The inner end of this shaft carries a pinion`68 which rotates driers 24 through gearing 69 carried by each drier shaft. The driers of section 24 are driven through similar connections, belt` 70 passing around fly-wheel 71 carried by shaft 72. `V

It will Vbe observed that there are no s] eedvarying means Vinterposed between counter-shaft ll andshafts 67 Vand 72,'respectively. Y That is due to the fact that in the installation illustratedthe drier cylinders are first driven at the desired speed, after which the speed of the other sections of the machine is varied accordingly.

Shaft 73 is associated with 4the calender rolls 26, said shaft carrying fly-wheel v74 which is driven by belt 75 from shaft 76. The latter is driven from counter-shaft 12 through belt 77V which passes around reversely coned pulleys 78 and 79.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that when the prime mover 6 is started all of the power-transmitting train of the various sections, upY to and including the several flywheels 35, 46, 52, 58, 66, V7l and 74 will be set in motion, it being understood that when this takes place all of the clutches are open. After :the yfly-wheels are broughtzup to `nornial speed, the clutch 34 on shaft 67 or 72 vis closed, because :in the machine illustrated 1the speed ofthe various sections of the machine isto be adjusted' to the speed of the'drier'cylinders. It will be here noted that at the time the clutches are closed there are no stationary belts or ropes beyond the clutches lto be star-ted.v All Vthe belts or ropes are moving synchronously with their pulleys, andthe coefficient of static friction between pulley and 'belts `or ropes is at the maximum, and the latter are exerting their greatest pull..V The 'load can now be applied to the driving train with the least chance for slip between belt and Apulley and Without dangerrof burning the belts by spinning of the driving pulleys, as above explained. Further, the large amount of energy stored in ltlie ffy-wheel associated with the closed clutch is immediately applied to overcome the inertia of the rolls and the starting friction of the bearings. As here'- tofore pointed out, the weight of these drier cylinders in a 202-inch machine is about 285 tons, and the common practice is to get them up to speed in about ten seconds. The transfer of energy from the fly-wheel to the rolls is accompanied by a decrease 4in the speed of the fly-wheel, but `there is no destructive strain placed on the beltsv` and ropes as heretofore. As soon as the speed of the fly-wheel decreases below normalgtlie ropes and belts at once tend to speed it up to normal. i

In lpaper-making machines as heretofore constructed, the clutches 34 were usually arranged so as to control not only the starting and stopping ofthe several sections of the machine, but also the starting and stopping of the corresponding parts of the driving mechanism. That is to say, the clutches were arranged between the rope drive and belts 44, 47, 53, 59, 65, 70 and 75; and thes'e belts werenot, as in the present invention, live or running belts as soon as the prime mover' was started. The result was that the immense torque required for starting manifested itself destructively all the way back to the engine, straining and destroying the belts, ropes and gearing. The arrangement of the ffy-wheels on the last shaft, or in other wordsV at the slowspeed end of the driving train, acts to protect the driving connections and to largely Vrelieve them of the enormous strains and stresses heretofore imposed. One very important result of'this is that much smaller driving mechanism can be employed than has heretofore been possible. v In addition,

the present invention largelydecreases the' cost of installation and also the normal cost of maintenance.

`After the sections of a modern vpaper-v making machine has been brought to normal speed and are making -paper in width and length adapted, for example, to supply thek demands of the largest newspaper presses, the machines are extremely sensitive to variations in temperature, atmospheric conditions and other influences, whereby the load may be caused to vary. 1f, for example, there shouldbe a sudden change of temperature in the space in which the sections are located, suclias may be caused by sudden admission of cold air through an open door, the paper and its supporting felt web would respond by contracting, thereby increasing friction and causing a temporary increase of load. The power to meet this sudden demand is supplied by the fly-wheel associated with the section. thereby relieving the belts, ropes or gears of the increased strain.

While, for the purpose of illustration, one expresion of the inventive idea has been shown and described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not so limited, but that the inventive idea may be embodied in` various mechanical foi'ms within the limits of the appended claims. For example, any suitable belt drive may be employed, and where this term is used in the claims, it is intended to include leather and fabric belting or rope drives; and any suitable means forvarying or adjusting the speed of the variou` sections may be employed. Further, while the energy reservoir has been herein shown in the forni of a conventional fly-wheel, it will be understood that Vit might bein the of a large gear wheel driven through ap= propriate gearing.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination in a paper-making machine, of heavy coperating rotatable paper-engaging rolls, a manually controllable clutch having its driven element directly connected with one of saidi rolls, a fly-wheel rigidly connected with the driving element of` the clutch, a driving shaft adapted to be connected with a prime mover, and a variable speed power connection between the driving shaft and the ily-wheel.

2. The combination in a paper-making machine, of heavy cooperating rotatable paper-engaging rolls, a manually controllablej clutch having its driven element directly connected with one of said rolls, a ilywheel rigidly connected with the driving element ofthe clutch, a driving shaft adapted to be connected with a prime mover, and speed reducing belt connecti-ims between the driving sh aft and the -fly-wheel.`

3. The combination in a paper-making machine, of a plurality of sets of heavy cooperating rotatable paper-engaging rolls` manually controllable clutches having their driven elementsdirectly connected respectively with the rolls of the said sets, flywheels rigidly connected respectively Ywith the driving elements of the clutches, a driving shaft adapted to be connected with a prime mover, and powerV connections .be-

ween the driving shaft and the several flyvrheels comprising a speed-changing device for each fly-wheel.

4. The combination in ay paper-making` the several fly-wheels comprising for eachV ily-wheel two belt pulleys and an endless friction belt engaging the said pulleys.

5. The combination in a paper-making machine, of a plurality of sets of heavy cooperating rotatable -paper-engaging rolls,

manually controllable clutches having theirv driven elements directly connected respectively with the rolls of the said sets, yflywheels rigidly connected respectively with the driving elements of the clutches, a driving` shaft adapted to be connected with a prime mover, and speed-reducing power connections between the driving shaft and the several'fly-wheels comprising a plurality of counter-shafts, endless rope connections between the drive shaft and the counter-shafts, belt pulleys on the counter-shafts, other belt pulleys associated respectively with the pulleys on the counter -shafts, belts passing around the pulleys, and connections between thesecond said pulleys and the respective fly-wheels.

6. The combination in a paper-making machine, of a plurality, of sets of heavy cooperating rotatable paper-engaging rolls, clutches having their driven elements directly connected respectively with the rolls of the said sets, fly-wheels connected respectively with the driving elements of lthe clutches, a driving shaft adapted to beconnected with a prime mover, and speed-reducing power connections between the driving .shaft and the several fly-wheels comprising- :i plurality of counter-shafts, connectionsV between the drive shaft and the countershafts, belt pulleys on the counter-shafts, other belt pulleys associated respectively with the pulleys on the Acounter-shafts, belts 'rassing around the pulleys, belt pulleys connected respectively with the second said pull eys, and belts passing around the said pulleys and the said fly-wheels respectively.

`7. f lhe combination in a paper-making machine, of a plurality of sets of heavy cooperating rotatable "paper-engaging rolls,V

manually controllable clutches having their driven elements directly connectedv respectively with the rolls of the said sets, flywheels rigidly connected; respectively with Y the driving elements ofthe clutches, a driving shaft adapted to be connected with a prime mover, a plurality of counter-shafts, endless rope connections between the drive shaft and the counter-shafts, coned belt pulleys on the counter-shafts, other oppositely coned belt pulleys associated respectively with the said pulleys on the counter-shafts, belts passing around the said coned pulleys, and connections between the second said coned pulleys and the respective fly-wheels.

8. The combination in a paper-making machine, or a plurality of sets of heavy cooperating rotatable paper-engaging rolls, manually controllable Iclutches having their driven elements directly connected respectivelywith the rolls of the said sets, flywheels connected respectively with the driving elements of the clutches, a driving shaft adapted to be connected with a prime mover, a plurality of counter-shafts, endless rope connections between the drive shaft and the counter-shafts, coned belt pulleys on the counter-shafts, other oppositely coned belt pulleys associated respectively with the said pulleys on the 'counter-shafts, belts passing around the said coned pulleys, belt pulleys connected respectively with the second said coned pulleys, and belts passing around the said pulleys and the said fly-wheels respectively.

9. The combination in a paper-making machine, of a prime mover, a counter-shaft,

a rope-drive connecting said prime mover and shaft, a second shaft, speed-reducing connections between said counter-shaft and said second shaft, heavy cop'erating paperengaging rolls, a clutch on said second shaft having its driven element directly connected to one of said rolls, and a fly-wheel connected. with the driving element of the clutch, whereby the momentum of said fly-wheel is available when the clutch is closed.

l0. The combination, in a paper-making machine, of a prime mover, a counter-shaft, driving connections between said prime mover and shaft, a second shaft, connections between said second shaft and said countershaft, said driving connections including counter-shaft and its second shaft Vwhereby said connections are set inl motion wheny said counter-shaft isrotated, heavy cooperating paper-engaging rolls one of which is driven from" each vsecond shaft', a clutch on each second shaft having' itsdiriven element directly connected tol said rol-l, andJ a fly-wheel rigidly connected with the' driving element of each clutch, said ffy-wheels continuously rotating during movement of said rope-drive and connections.

l2. In a Vpaper-making machine, a prime mover, a plurality of counter-shafts connected thereto, a second shaft for each countershaft, speed reducing connections between each counter-shaft and its second shaft whereby said-connections are set in motion when the counter-shaft is rotated, heavy cooperating paper-engaging rolls one of which y is driven from ea-z'h second shaft, a clutch on each counter-shaft having its driven element connected to said roll, and a fly-wheel connected to the driving element of each clutch, said fly-wheels continuously'rotating upon rotation of said counter-shafts.

13. In a paper-making machine, a prime mover, a plurality of counter-shafts connected thereto, a second shaft for each counter-shaft, connections between each countershaft and its second shaft whereby said connections are set in motion when the countershaft is rotated, said connections including speed-varying means, heavyL cooperatingr paper-engaging rolls one of which is driven from each second shaft,a clutch on each second Ashaft having its driven element directly connected to said roll, and a fly-wheel rigidly connected to the driving element of each clutch, said fly-wheels continuously rotating upon rotation of said counter-shafts.

14. In a paper-making machine, a prime mover, a plurality of counter-shafts, reduced speed rope drive connections between the counter-shafts and the prime mover, a second shaft driven from each counter-shaft, heavy cooperating paper-engaging rolls one of which is driven from each second shaft, a ily-wheel on each second shaft continuously rotating with its counter-shaft, and a clutch on each second shaft positioned between its fly-wheel and roll.

l5. In a paper-making machine, a prime mover, a plurality of counter-shafts, rope shaft positioned between its fly-wheel and roll.

mover, a plurality of counter-shafts, speedreducing connections between the countershafts and the prime mover, a second .shaft driven from each counter-shaft, heavyeooperating paper-engaging rolls one of which is driven from each second shaft, at reduced speed, a flywheel on each second shaft continuously rotating Vwith its counter-shaft, and a clutch on each second shaft positioned between its fly-wheel and roll. v

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

BENJAMIN DENVER COPPAGE. 

